##nded . eds ##on and thomas tried to persuade van ##de ##gr ##if ##t to move forces to defend the ridge , but van ##de ##gr ##if ##t refused , believing that the japanese were more likely to attack along the coast . finally , thomas convinced van ##de ##gr ##if ##t that the ridge was a good location for eds ##on ' s raiders to " rest " from their actions of the preceding month . on 11 september , the 840 men of eds ##on ' s unit — including the 1st raiders and the para ##marine ##s — deployed onto and around the ridge and prepared to defend it . ka ##wa ##guchi ' s center body of troops was planning to attack the lung
##nded. edson and thomas tried to persuade vandegrift to move forces to defend the ridge, but vandegrift refused, believing that the japanese were more likely to attack along the coast. finally, thomas convinced vandegrift that the ridge was a good location for edson's raiders to " rest " from their actions of the preceding month. on 11 september, the 840 men of edson's unit — including the 1st raiders and the paramarines — deployed onto and around the ridge and prepared to defend it. kawaguchi's center body of troops was planning to attack the lung